Loom



3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. R. PEDRAZZO ET AL Original Filed Nov. '7, 1939 May 1, 1945.

155. ltMiLL'J, wmvmu 1 26 rllllilllllllllll INVENTORS EM. 1?. Psamqz zo flue/v5 R. Peak/7220 ATTORNEYS y 1945- A. R. PEDRAZZO ETAL 2,374,952

LOOM

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 7, 1939 o 05/08 9 m7 l 30 I ATTORNEYS Patented May 1, 1945 hive-halt RUM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOM Adone R. Pedrazzo, Union City, and Emil R. Pedrazzo, West New York, N. J., assignors to Botany Worsted Mills, Passaic, N. J a corporation of New Jersey 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in looms of the type in which the thread for the weft or filling is fed from cones or bobbins on each side of the loom to a shuttle which merely acts as a carrier to draw the filling threads through the shed. This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 303,178, filed November 7, 1939, now patent No. 2,265,190.

The principal object of the invention is to provid an improved loom of the character indicated which will be simple and durable in construction and efficient and reliable in its operations.

In accordance with the above and other objects which will hereinafter become more apparent, this invention provides novel filler thread cutting means which are arranged to be automatically controlled by mechanisms associated with the lay of the loom and which are of a simple and practical nature and designed to more efficiently carry out the functions of a loom of the character indicated.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a right-hand side elevation of the entire machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the righthand portion of the loom: Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional elevation of the filler thread needle and cutter mechanism; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detailed view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the relation of the parts when the movable cutter is in position to cut the filler thread, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the movable cutter in its fully operated position, the filler thread being already cut and the lay starting its return stroke.

In order that the construction and operation of the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be more readily understood, it should be kept in mind that the shuttle used in this loom is of the pirnless type in that it carries no thread supplying quills or cops. The shuttle merely acts as a carrier for the weft or filling thread which is fed to the shuttle at one end of the loom and is detached therefrom when the shuttle reaches the other end of the loom at the end of its throw. Associated with the shuttle boxes at each end of the loom are mechanisms for bringing the shuttle into proper position to be loaded, for locking the shuttle in loading position, for feeding and discharging the ends of filling threads from the shuttle, for cutting filling threads to their proper lengths and forming the ends thereof into a selvage, for releasing the various latching and locking mechanisms and for actuating the shuttle. The corresponding mechanisms on each side of the loom are similar in all respects except for certain details. In view of the similarity of the mechanisms on each side of the m and the fact that a description of those on one side of the loom will sumce for an understanding of the operation of those on both sides, a detailed description of the mechanisms at the right-hand side of the loom only will be given, it being understood that such description applies in all respects to the mechanisms at the other side of the loom.

Turning now to the drawings, it may be first pointed out generally that the body of the 100m is of usual construction and includes side frame members I which are connected by cross members in the customary fashion. The warp threads W are fed from a spool 2 at the rear of the loom forwardly over a roller 3 and then through heddl frames 4 and a reed 5 of any desired construction. The heddles 4 may be arranged in any manner to open the warp and to form the shed in the usual way and the reed 5 is oscillated in the usual manner to pack the filling thread F after the latter has been fed through the shed. The oscillatory movement of the reed 5 is about the pivotal axis of the lay 6 on the upper end of the latter of which the reed is mounted, the lower end of the lay 6 being connected in the usual manner to a transverse shaft 1 which is supported at its ends by the side frame members I of the loom. A is usual. the lay 6 is pivoted about the shaft 1 as an axis by means of a crank arm 8 which is pivotally connected at one end to the rear of the lay and at its other end is connected to a crank 9 fixedly attached to a crank shaft l0 extending transversely of the loom. The crank shaft l0 and the crank 9 are rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed n Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when the crank 9 is in the position designated A, the lay has b en advanced to its forward or closed position while, when the crank 9 is in the position designated B, in the position shown in Fig.

' 1, the lay has been withdrawn to its rearmost or fullyretracted position. Disposed on each side of the series of warp threads W is a selvage thread S which is fed from a tensioned spool H at the rear of the loom forwardly over the roller 3, through the heddle frames 4 and reed 5 and through a pair of eyes provided on a forwardly extending guide arm, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. The woven material formed from the warp threads W, selvage threads S and filling threads F, feeds forwardly over the templet I2 provided on a cross beam of the loom, then passes downwardly from such templet and is wound up on a roller I3 supported by the side frame members I at the front of the loom. As the parts so 'far described form no part of the present invention, details thereof have not been illustrated.

On each side of the loom beyond the series of warp threads is provided a suitable spool or cone I4 on which is wound the filling or weft threads F (see Figs. 1 and 2). Each of the cones I4 is disposed in a suitable container I5 which is preferably made of transparent material and is mounted on a bracket IB fixedly attached to the adjacent side frame member I of the loom. A is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the filling thread F from each spool I4 is drawn upwardly through an eye I! provided at one end of a channel-shaped guide member I8 which is secured at such end to the cover of the container I5 and projects transversely and forwardly of the loom into association with the operating mechanisms at such end of the loom. The filling thread F passes from the eye Il through the channel of the guide member I8 to an eye I9 provided at the other or outer end of such guide member and then downwardly from such eye I9 around a rod which is attached at its upper end to the outer end of the channel member I8. During the passage of the filling thread F through the channel member I8, it is maintained in frictional engagement with the bottom wall of such member, which is preferably lined with felt, by a plurality of tension members 2|, 2| (see Fi 2.) which function to yieldably retard the feed of the filling thread from the spool I4 to the rod 20. The filling thread F is fed down the vertically disposed rod 20 in a spiral manner (see Fig. 1) and at the lower end of such rod is passed through an eye 22 provided on the outer end of a bracket arm 23 to which is also connected the lower end of the rod 20. From the eye 22 the filling thread passes through a ring or eye provided on the lower offset end of a member 24 and thence through an eye 25 provided on the outer or free end of a needle 26 (see Figs. 1 and 3 to 5). The bracket arm 23 is fixedly secured at its forward end to a bracket plate 21 mounted on the template I2. Secured to the bracket arm 23, intermediate its ends, is a vertically disposed bearing plate to the upper end of which is pivotally connected the member 24 which depends therefrom. The member 24 functions in the nature of a pendulum, being normally in the position shown in Fig. 1, but swinging toward the right, as viewed in such figure, when tension is exerted on the filling thread. The oscillating movement of the member 24 is limited by adjustable stop members provided on the bracket 23 on each side of such member. It will thus be seen that the filling thread F during its feed from the spool or cone I4 i restricted against free movement by its engagement with the felt lining in the channel member I8 under the influence of tension members 2|, 2 I, the frictional engagement of such thread with the exterior surfaces of the rod 20 around which it is spirally fed, and the inertia of the pendulum member 24. Although exerting a restraining influence on the feed of the filling thread, the pendulum member 24 by reason of its being pivoted can immediately supply a sufiicient amount of the filling thread to take up the initial shock imparted thereto when the shuttle is thrown across the loom, thereby preventing breakage of the filling thread during this operation. When the filling thread is cut at the end of the throw of the shuttle, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, the weight of the pendulum member 24 enables it to return to its normal position, thereby retracting the cut end of the thread so that only a small portion of it dangles from the eye 25 of the needle 26.

The shuttle or carrier to which the filling thread F is fed by the needle 26 is illustrated and described in detail in the aforementioned copending parent application. For the purposes of this application, however, it is believed only necessary to state that the shuttle or carrier, which is designated generally by the numeral 30, comprises a longitudinally extending channel member which slidably carries a filling thread carriage that is designated generally by the reference character 39 (see Fi 3). The carriage 39 is adapted for slidable movement on the channel member lengthwise of the shuttle during the throw of the shuttle while, when the shuttle is at rest in a shuttle box, the carriage is at either end of the shuttle. Assuming, for instance, that the shuttle is positionedin the right-hand box of the loom, as viewed in Fig. 2, then the carriage is on the lefthand side of the shuttle. When the picker at the right-hand side of the loom is actuated to impart to the shuttle a blow sufficient to drive it across the lay 0 of the loom, the carriage 39 by reason of its inertia and its slidable connection with the shuttle does not instantly partake of the sudden movement of the latter to the left but moves relative to the shuttle (to the right-hand side thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2), in which position it is held during the passage of the shuttle across the m. By this method the carriage 39 is brought to a trailing position at the back of the shuttle 30. leaving the pointed end of the latter free as in ordinary shuttles. The body of the carriage is provided with a pair of forwardly projecting end members between which are positioned a pair of spring pressed plates or latch members, each of which is normally urged lengthwise of the shuttle towards one of the end members and each set of end and latch members being adapted to hold the end of a filler thread therebetween during the travels of the shuttle across the lay. Associated with both shuttle boxes are means for inserting the end of a filler thread between the set of end and latch members on the carriage which w ll be in a trailing position during the travel of the shuttle across the loom. When the shuttle reaches a shuttle box after its throw across the lay, means are provided to release the end of the fillin-Z thread held by the trailing latch member and end member and at the same time to secure the loose end of a new filling thread from the spool or cone I4 disposed on such side of the loom, between the other slidable plate or latch member and its associated end member on the shuttle carriage.

The means for releasing the filling thread'F carried across the loom by the carriage 39 of the shuttle 30 consists of a releasing plate I28 (see Figs. 1 and 3) which is mounted on the rearward end of a forwardly extending arm I01 (see Figs. 2 to 6). The arm I01 is slidably supported by guides I09, I09 provided on a bracket plate I08 secured to the templet I2 and the underlying cross-beam of the loom (see Figs. 3 to 6). As the lay in its forward motion with the shuttle 30 and the carriage 39 thereof correctly positioned in its box, brings the carriage 39 up to the releasing plate I28, the latter will engage the carriage latch member holding the end of the thread and force VII L511 IHU such member aside against the tension of its associated spring, thereby releasing the fastened end of the filling thread F from the engagement of such member and its associated end member.

Immediately following the engagement of the releasing plate I28 with the said latch member of the carriage 39, the lower projecting end of the eye provided on the outer end of the needle 26 will come into engagement with the other latch member of the carriage and open such member against the tension of its associated spring. The needle 26 is pivotally mounted at its forward end on an extension of the bracket plate I08, which is secured to the templet I2 and the underlying cross-beam of the loom, such pivotal connection being loose to enable a slight sidewise movement of the outer end of the needle 26. The arrangement of the needle 26 is such that the eye 25 of the needle first comes into engagement with an inclined surface of the latch member at a point spaced from its associated end member. As the lay continues its forward movement, the looseness provided at the pivotal point of the needle will enable the eye 25 to be cammed slightly towards the associated end member so that when it has entered between the latch and end members engaged, it will be frictionally engaged by the opposed edges of both members. The needle 26 is then pivoted upwardly by suitable means to lift the eye 25 thereof upwardly out of engagement between the engaged latch and end members of the carriage 39. As soon as the eye 25 is moved past such members, the latch under the tension of its associated spring will immediately snap to closed position, thereby anchoring the end of the filling thread dangling through the eye 25 to the carriage. As a result of the operations of the releasing plate I28 and the needle 26, the end of the thread which has been carried across the loom by the shuttle 30 has been released and the end of a new filling thread from the spool I4 on the adjacent side of the loom will have been connected to the carriage 39 of the shuttle 30, so that when the shuttle is again operated by the picker 10 it will carry across with it the attached end of the new filling thread to the opposite side of the loom.

After a filling thread has been carried across the loom by the shuttle 30, mechanisms come into operation in the second half of the forward stroke of the lay to out such thread from the spool from which it has been fed. The mechanism for accomplishing this purpose comprises a stationary blade I which is fixedly attached to the sliding arm I01 and a movable blade I36 which i pivotally mounted on a spring pressed bolt I31 extending through the outer end portion of the arm I01 and the stationary blade I35, as is shown more clearly in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings. A spring I30 is provided intermediate the arm I01 and the head of the bolt I31 to maintain the movable blade in close engagement with the stationary blade I35. Normally disposed in a slot provided in the upper end portion of the blade I36 extending above the upper edge of the slidable arm I01, is an actuating pin I39 which is provided on the outer end of bracket I40 secured to a stationary supporting arm I42 in any suitable manner as by means of a bolt MI. The arm I42 is fixedly secured to the bracket plate I08 in any suitable fashion, as by means of bolts. A spring I43 connects the outer end of the stationary supporting arm I42 with the inner end of the slidable member I01 and normally maintains such member in its outermost position with the forward end thereof up against the guide member I09, as is illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4 of the drawings, such member I09 functioning as a stop to limit the movement of the slidable arm I01 toward the lay 6. In this position of the parts the blades I35 and I36 are opened. As the lay 6 moves forwardly toward such mechanism, a, striking plate I 45 mounted on the top plate 69 of the shuttle box engages with a rearwardly projecting portion I44 provided on the slidable member I01 and forces such member forwardly against the tension of the spring I43 (see Fig. 5). IAS the slidable member I01 is forced forwardly, the pin I39 rotates the movable blade I36 in a clockwise direction. as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, the closing blades thereupon cutting the filling thread connecting the needle 26 with the carrier 39 of the shuttle which is now positioned on the other side of the loom. In the passage of the shutt1e'30 across the loom, the thread was drawn over a guide finger I46 projecting forwardly from the lay (see Figs. 3 and 4) and positioned so that it moves intermediate the needle 26 and the cutters I35 and I36 on the forward motion of the lay. The finger I46 in such forward movement of the lay, brings the filling thread into proper position with the cutting edge of the lower blade I35 for the cutting operation, a is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Furthermore, when the lay moves forwardly there is provided thereon a finger I41 which engages the portion of the thread on the other side of the cutting blades, as is shown in Fig. 5, and positions the thread to assure a. positive cutting thereof when the blades are forced into closed position. In Fig. 6 of the drawings, the lay is shown in its fully advanced position ready to return to its retracted position. As the lay is retracted, the sliding arm I01 will advance rearwardly under the tension of the spring I43 and thereby cause the pin I39 to rotate the movable blade I36 in a counterclockwise direction and return such blade to its open position. When the sliding member I01 advances to its fully extended position the parts will be again in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. As soon as the filler thread F has been cut, means come into operation to form the ends thereof into a selvage, as is more fully explained in our aforementioned copending application.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the several instrumentalities perform their operations during the last half of the forward movement of the lay 6 or while the crank arm 9 is moving from the position designated D to the position designated A in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When the crank arm 9 is in the position designated A, the lay is in its extreme forward position and the shed is closed. In this position of the lay the shuttle 30 is positioned in one of the shuttle boxes. Assuming that the shuttle is in the right-hand shuttle box on the right-hand side of the loom, as viewed in Fig. 2, the rear end of the needle 26 is above the carriage 39 with the end of the filler thread dangling therefrom caught between one of the latch l .embers and its associated end member of the carriage. The slide arm I01 is being held in its fully retracted position by the striker plate I45 so that the movable blade I36 of the filling thread cutter is fully closed (see Fig. 6). 0n the left-hand side of the loom the corresponding mechanisms are similarly disposed but, of course, are not effective. As the crank arm 9 moves from the position A to the position C during the rotating movements of the crank shaft I0, the lay Ii moves rearwardly and the harness 4 opens the shed.

During this period of movement of the lay, the shuttle remains at rest in the shuttle box at the right-hand side of the loom. The slide arm I01, however, moves rearwardly with the lay under the influence of spring I43 and during such movement causes the movable blade I36 of the filler thread cutter to be returned to its open position by the pin I39 (see Fig. 5). At the end of the rearward movement of the slide arm I01 and while the lay is continuing its rearward movement, the needle 28 returns to its normal position, leaving the end of the filling thread in the carriage. The corresponding mechanisms on the left-hand side of the machine go through similar operations to place such mechanisms in a condition to be operated on the next forward movement of the lay.

When the crank arm 9 reaches the position indicated C in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the picker III is actuated to strike the shuttle 30, the latter being thrown as a result of such impact across the loom. The period of time in which the shuttle moves from one shuttle box to the other being the period that the crank arm takes to move from the position designated C through the position designated B, to the position designated D, or during the time that the lay has been retracted to its fully opened position and has advanced halfway back to its closed position. As the shuttle moves from the shuttle box at the right-hand side of the loom under the impact of the picker 10, the carriage 39 on such shuttle, by reason of its inertia, moves backwardly with relation to the shuttle to the rear end of the latter to a trailing position. As the shuttle leaves the shuttle box, the filler thread is caught by the guide finger I46 which holds the thread to the lay as the latter continues its rearward motion so that the thread during the passage of the shuttle is held in a position substantially, but not quite, parallel with the front end of the top surfaces of the lay. The pendulum member 24 during such passage of the shuttle is swung rearwardly so that there is a gentle forward pull on the filling thread to maintain it in proper position relative to the warp threads of the shed.

As the crank arm 9 moves from the position D to the position A, the releasing plate on the slidable arm I01 at the left-hand side of the loom comes into engagement with the latch member on the carriage 39 which holds the thread, to release the latter. The striker plates I then engage with the projecting portions I44 of the slidable arms III! to move the latter forwardly and thereby to rotate the movable blades I36 of the cutters to their closed position. As the thread in this position of the parts is connected to the right-hand needle 26, the cutter I36 at the righthand side of the loom only will perform an actual cutting operation. At the same time the finger I41 at the right-hand side of the loom engages the thread to tension the portion of the filler thread between the blades of the cutter and enable the latter to perform their function properly. As the loom completes its movement, the reed 5 packs the filling thread against the body of the woven fabric. The parts are then again in position to begin their cycle of movements as the lay moves rearwardly on its next backward stroke.

Having thus described and illustrated a loom embodying the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of the several cooperating mechanisms may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and hence we do not wish to limit ourselves strictly to the structures herein set forth.

We claim:

1. In a loom, a fixed portion of said loom, a lay movable forwardly toward said fixed portion, a pair of elongated members mounted in spaced parallel relation on said fixed portion of the loom and projecting from the latter towards said lay, one of said members being fixed to said fixed portion of the loom and the other of said members being arranged for sliding movement longitudinally thereof, a cutting blade fixed to the projecting end of said sliding member, a movable cutting blade pivotally mounted on the projecting end of said sliding member in coactive relation to said fixed blade, an actuating member secured to said fixed member and connected to said movable blade so as to oscillate the latter upon movement of said sliding member from an advanced position to a retracted position and back to an advanced position, a spring connected at one end to the projecting end of said fixed member and at its other end to the non-projecting end of said sliding member, so as to normally maintain said sliding member in an advanced position, and means on said lay adapted to engage the projecting end of said sliding member and to retract the same against the pressure of said spring on the forward movement of the lay.

2. In a loom, a fixed portion of said loom, a lay movable forwardly towards said fixed portion, an elongated member slidably mounted on said fixed portion for sliding movement longitudinally of such member and projecting from such fixed portion of the loom towards said lay, a cutting blade fixed to the projecting end of said sliding member, a movable cutting blade pivotally mounted on the projecting end of said sliding member in coactive relation to said fixed blade, stationary means fixed to the fixed portion of the loom and connected to said movable blade so as to oscillate the same upon movement of said sliding member from an advanced position to a retracted position and back to an advanced position, resilient means connected to said fixed portion of the loom and to said sliding member and operative to normally maintain the latter in an advanced position, and means on said lay arranged to engage the projecting end of said sliding member and to retract the same against the pressure of said resilient means on the forward movement of the lay.

3. In a loom, a fixed portion of said loom, a lay movable forwardly towards said fixed portion, an elongated member slidably mounted on said fixed portion for sliding movement longitudinally of such member and projecting from such fixed portion of the loom towards said lay, a cutting blade fixed to the projecting end of said sliding member, a movable cutting blade pivotally mounted on the projecting end of said sliding member in coactive relation to said fixed blade, means fixed to the fixed portion of the loom and engaging said movable blade so as to actuate the same upon movement of said sliding member, resilient means connected to said fixed portion of the loom and to said sliding member and operative to maintain the latter in an advanced position, means on said lay arranged to engage the projecting end of said sliding member and to retract the same against the pressure of said resilient means on the forward movement of the lay, and means on said lay arranged to engage the filler thread at spaced points on opposite sides of said blades, said means being so constructed and arranged that during the forward movement of the lay such means operates on one side of the cutting blades to carry the filling thread into engagement with said fixed blade and then releases the same before the cutting operation and on the other side Of the cutting blades engages the filler thread to assure a positive cutting thereof when the movable blade is actuated.

4. In a loom having an oscillating lay, a shuttle provided With a filling thread carriage, a shuttle box mounted on the lay of the loom. and means for feeding a filling thread to said carriage while the shuttle is at rest in said shuttle box; a fixed portion of said loom, an arm slidably mounted on said fixed portion of the loom and positioned near said feeding means, a cutting device mounted on said slidable arm, means connected to said shuttle box to move said slidable arm in the operation of the loom, means connected with said fixed portion of the loom and constructed and arranged to actuate said cutting device on movement of said arm, and mean mounted on the lay of the loom in the region of said shuttle box and projecting forwardly between said feeding means and said cutting device, said last-mentioned means being constructed and arranged to bring a thread extending from said feeding means to said shuttle carriage into proper position with respect to said cutting device for the cutting operation.

5. In a loom having an oscillating lay, a shuttle carrying a filling thread carriage, a shuttle box mounted on the lay of the loom, a fixed portion of said loom, and means carried by said fixed portion of the loom for feeding a filling thread to said carriage; an arm slidably mounted on said fixed portion near said feeding means, means for normally maintaining said slidable arm in its rearward position, means connected to the lay of the loom to retract said slidable arm in the operation of the loom, a fixed cutting blade mounted on said slidable arm, a movable cutting blade associated in operable relation with said fixed cutting blade, means secured to said fixed portion of the loom and constructed and ar ranged to actuate said movable cutting blade on movement of said slidable arm, means mounted on the lay of the loom in the region of said shuttle box and constructed and arranged to engage a thread extending from said feeding means to said carriage at a point intermediate said feeding means and cutting means and to bring it into proper position with respect to said cutting device for the cutting operation, and means mounted on said loom constructed and arranged to engage the thread on the other side of said cutting means to assure a positive cutting thereof when said movable blade is operated.

6. In a loom having an oscillating lay, a shuttle provided with a filling thread carriage, a shuttle box mounted on the lay of the loom and means for feeding a filling thread to said carriage while the shuttle is at rest in said shuttle box; means on said loom constructed and arranged to place the thread under increased tension while connected to the carriage, means on the loom constructed and arranged to release a thread from the carriage, and means on the loom positioned near said tensionng means and intermediate the latter and said releasing means and constructed and arranged to out said thread while under such increased tension, said cutting mean being mounted on a fixed portion of the loom and being controlled by the lay of the loom, said releasing means being operable to release the thread from the carriage just after the cuttin operation and while said cutting means are under control of the lay.

ADONE R. PEDRAZZO. EMIL R. PEDRAZZO. 

